Marty Awards

The Marty Awards debuted on May 12, 2023 in the Social Hall at the Jewish Community Center. The event was the vision of Aleph Miller Brown, who envisioned creating an Oscars-style formal awards ceremony honoring the accomplishments and achievement of members of BBYO.

The first Marty’s was hosted by Nordaunian seniors Aaron Yurman and Max Rudman and featured a 20-minute red carpet pre-show on Instagram Live hosted by Alephs Shaefer Spizman, Sam Hochler and Michael Furey, hilarious improv by your hosts, the introduction of a smaller Marty Ball (“Baby Marty”) and lots of paparazzi on hand to capture all the moments.

“It’s all happening,” said Brown, who was a senior at Blue Valley North High School.

Max Rudman was named Aleph of the Year; Leah Martin was named BBG of the Year. Other award winners: Sami Sandler, Underclassman of the Year; Kaitlyn Herman, Mensch of the Year; Nordaunian’s Poetry Night, Program of the Year; and Two’s/Nordaunian Sleepover, Collab Program of the Year.

“This is an incredibly special program,” Rudman said. “I’m so proud of Two’s AZA for putting this together. I think they resemble the strength of our order and I couldn’t be more prouder.”

A total of 19 Two’s Alephs attended the event: Max Blinn, Roman Katz, Tate Novorr, Julian Lande, Miller Brown, Sam Litwin, Eli Maker, Sam Hochler, Michael Furey, Will Widman, Danny Martin, Jack Bowen, Shaefer Spizman, Jason Persky, Tad Lambert, Beckett Hodes, Eli Cohen, Miles Cohen and Hunter Brown.

The 2nd annual Marty Awards was held May 11, 2024 at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah and proved to be even bigger and better. Two’s seniors Eli Maker, Miles Cohen and Tad Lambert were the host for the evening. In total, 130 tickets were sold to the event. New to the event was the addition of the announcement and crowning of Two’s “Belle of the Ball.” The winner was Julia Luetje. Nordaunian’s Justin Parmet was the winner of Aleph of the Year, while Maggie Goldberg was the winner of BBG of the Year. Two’s/Nordau Dinner with Chef Que was the winner of Program of the Year. Aleph Judah Bassin and his father, Zachary Bassin, presented the Mensch of the Year to Two’s Shaefer Spizman. Nordaunain’s Simon Balanoff was the winner of Senior of the Year; Norah Pabst was winner of Underclassman of the Year. Two’s Advisor David Wexler was presented a plaque for Advisor of the Year and signed a freshly-wrapped Marty Ball. Wexler joined Two’s freshmen class in thanking Two’s senior class. Alephs Danny Martin and Rex Hebberd served as the bartenders, serving such non-alcoholic beverages as “The Wex on the Beach” (Lemonade With Ginger Ale),  “The Hot Marty” (Shirley Temple With Orange Juice) and “The Furious Furey” (Cherry Limeade).

The second Marty Awards also featured hors d’oeuvres, a Marty Ball Lifting Contest, the debut of Two’s original videos “Back Two’s The Future” and “Back Two’s The Future Part II,” a celebration of the chapter’s 100th anniversary and a toast to “another 100 years.”

Planning is underway for the third annual Marty Awards … so stay tuned!